Range of Risk Factor Levels, Risk Control, and Temporal Trends for Nephropathy and End-stage Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Adherence to cardio-protective medications and cardiovascular disease in adults with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

We estimated overall refill adherence to all antihypertensive [AHT] and/or lipid-lowering drugs in the treatment regimen and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults with type 1 diabetes, taking kidney disease into account.

METHODS

This Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study involved 1,558 adults with type 1 diabetes who had purchased AHT and/or lipid-lowering drugs within ± 0.5 year from baseline and were followed until their first CVD event, death, or end of 2015. Proportion of days covered (PDC) method was used to calculate adherence. The adherence was classified as good (≥80 %), intermediate (≥50 and <80%) or poor (<50%).

RESULTS

Median adherence rate was 74% (IQR 63-84 %). Both good (OR 0.55 [95% CI 0.33, 0.92], P=0.02) and intermediate (0.47 [0.29, 0.77], P=0.003) adherence were associated with lower odds of CVD, compared to poor adherence. Moreover, the higher the adherence percentage point in those with moderate albuminuria, the lower was the odds for CVD (0.81 [0.67, 0.98], P=0.03, per 10 unit increase in adherence).

CONCLUSIONS

In adults with type 1 diabetes, refill adherence of 50% or more to cardio-protective medications is associated with lower odds of incident CVD. Our findings highlight the relevance of going beyond prescribing protective CVD drugs, ensuring, and improving medication adherence matters.

Cardiometabolic traits mediating the effect of education on the risk of DKD and CKD: a Mendelian randomization study

Background

Both diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more prevalent among individuals with lower levels of education in observational studies. To quantify the mediation effect of recognized cardiometabolic traits, we obtain causal estimates between education and DKD as well as CKD.

Materials and methods

We assessed the causal effect of education on DKD and CKD, separately estimated the causal effect of 26 cardiometabolic traits on DKD and CKD, and finally calculated the mediating effects and mediating proportions of each using two-step, two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR). Furthermore, the genetic association between exposure, mediators, and outcomes was investigated using linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) regression analysis. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) were retrieved from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) v8 to serve as genetic instrumental variables. Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), Bayesian colocalization analysis, and Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) analysis were performed to explore underlying susceptibility genes between education, mediators, and kidney diseases.

Results

Higher education with a genetically predicted 1-SD (4.2 years) was linked to a 48.64% decreased risk of DKD and a 29.08% decreased risk of CKD. After extensive evaluation of 26 cardiometabolic traits, 7 and 6 causal mediators were identified as mediating the effects of education on DKD and CKD, respectively. The largest mediating factor between education and DKD was BMI, which was followed by WHR, T2D, fasting insulin, SBP, fasting glucose, and DBP. In contrast, candidate mediators in the education-to-CKD pathway included BMI, followed by cigarettes smoked per day, WHR, SBP, T2D, and DBP. MR analysis revealed that TP53INP1 was found to be a shared susceptibility gene for cardiometabolic traits and DKD, while L3MBTL3 was found to be a shared susceptibility gene for cardiometabolic traits and CKD.

Conclusion

Our findings provide solid evidence that education has a causally protective effect on the development of DKD and CKD. We additionally reveal significant directions for intervention on cardiometabolic traits that mitigate the negative effects of educational inequities on the onset of DKD and CKD. Our work demonstrates a shared genetic basis between education, cardiometabolic traits, and kidney diseases. Future research aiming at lowering kidney risk may benefit from these findings.

GLP1-GIP receptor co-agonists: a promising evolution in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes represents a growing challenge for global public health. Its prevalence is increasing worldwide, and, like obesity, it affects progressively younger populations compared to the past, with potentially greater impact on chronic complications. Dual glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor agonists are among the new pharmacological strategies recently developed to address this challenge. Tirzepatide, characterized by its ability to selectively bind and activate receptors for the intestinal hormones GIP and GLP-1, has been tested in numerous clinical studies and is already currently authorized in several countries for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In this context, the aim of the present document is to summarize, in the form of a narrative literature review, the currently available data on the main mechanisms of action of GIP/GLP-1 co-agonists and the clinical effects of tirzepatide evaluated in various clinical trials.

Plasma matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases explored in relation to the severity and progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes: baseline and prospective analyses

AIMS

To explore whether circulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, MMP-9/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, MMP-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), MMP-14, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 were associated with the severity and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

Baseline and prospective analyses were conducted over a period of 10.5 person-years. In 2009, recruitment and biochemical analyses (MMPs, TIMPs, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, macroalbuminuria) were performed. Fundus photography, performed at baseline and at follow-up in accordance with the regional screening programme, was compared after being categorised according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. 'DR progression at least one leve' was calculated. High MMP-2 was defined as ≥178 ng/mL (≥75th percentile) and high TIMP-2 as ≥205 ng/mL (≥75th percentile). DR was dichotomised as 'at least moderate DR' or 'no/mild DR'.

RESULTS

The study included 267 participants, 57% of whom were men. At baseline, the prevalence of high MMP-2 (p=0.001) and high TIMP-2 (p=0.008) increased with the severity of DR. 'At least moderate DR' (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.4, p=0.008) and macroalbuminuria (AOR 3.6, p=0.025) were independently associated with high MMP-2. 'At least moderate DR' (AOR 2.3, p=0.009) and macroalbuminuria (3.4, p=0.031) were independently associated with high TIMP-2. DR progression occurred in 101 (46%) patients (p<0.001). HbA1c≥53 mmol/mol was associated with the progression of DR (crude OR 3.8, p=0.001). No other MMPs or TIMPs were linked to the severity or the progression of DR.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 indicated more severe DR or diabetic nephropathy. Only HbA1c was associated with the progression of DR in 267 patients with T1D.

Non-coronary peripheral arterial complications in people with type 2 diabetes: a Swedish retrospective cohort study

Background

Few studies have explored long-term trends and risk factors for peripheral arterial complications in type 2 diabetes compared to the general population. Our research focuses on identifying optimal risk factors, their significance, risk associated with multifactorial risk factor control, and trends for these complications in diabetic patients versus general controls.

Methods

This study included persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus entered into the Swedish National Diabetes Register 2001-2019 and controls matched for age-, sex- and county of residence. Outcomes comprised of extracranial large artery disease, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, lower extremity arterial disease and diabetes foot disease. Standardized incidence rates and Cox regression were used for analyses.

Findings

The study comprises 655,250 persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus; average age 64.2; 43.8% women. Among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the incidence rates per 100,000 person years for each non-coronary peripheral arterial complication event changed between 2001 and 2019 as follows: extracranial large artery disease 170.0-84.9; aortic aneurysm 40.6-69.2; aortic dissection 9.3 to 5.6; lower extremity artery disease from 338.8 to 190.8; and diabetic foot disease from 309.8 to 226.8. Baseline hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking status and lipid levels were independently associated with all outcomes in the type 2 diabetes mellitus cohort. Within the cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the risk for extracranial large artery disease and lower extremity artery disease increased in a stepwise fashion for each risk factor not within target. Excess risk for non-coronary peripheral arterial complications in the entire cohort for persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared to matched controls, were as follows: extracranial large artery disease adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.69 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.65-1.73), aortic aneurysm HR 0.89 (95% CI, 0.87-0.92), aortic dissection HR 0.51 (95% CI, 0.46-0.57) and lower extremity artery disease HR 2.59 (95% CI, 2.55-2.64).

Interpretation

The incidence of non-coronary peripheral arterial complications has declined significantly among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with the exception of aortic aneurysm. HbA1c, smoking and blood pressure demonstrated greatest relative contribution for outcomes and lower levels of cardiometabolic risk factors are associated with reduced relative risk of outcomes.

Funding

Swedish Governmental and the County support of research and education of doctors, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and Åke-Wibergs grant.

Non-coronary arterial outcomes in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a Swedish retrospective cohort study

Background

Observational studies on long-term trends, risk factor association and importance are scarce for type 1 diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial outcomes. We set out to investigate trends in non-coronary complications and their relationships with cardiovascular risk factors in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared to matched controls.

Methods

34,263 persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus from the Swedish National Diabetes Register and 164,063 matched controls were included. Incidence rates of extracranial large artery disease, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, lower extremity artery disease, and diabetic foot syndrome were analyzed using standardized incidence rates and Cox regression.

Findings

Between 2001 and 2019, type 1 diabetes mellitus incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were as follows: extracranial large artery disease 296.5-84.3, aortic aneurysm 0-9.2, aortic dissection remained at 0, lower extremity artery disease 456.6-311.1, and diabetic foot disease 814.7-77.6. Persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus with cardiometabolic risk factors at target range did not exhibit excess risk of extracranial large artery disease [HR 0.83 (95% CI, 0.20-3.36)] or lower extremity artery disease [HR 0.94 (95% CI, 0.30-2.93)], compared to controls. Persons with type 1 diabetes with all risk factors at baseline, had substantially elevated risk for diabetic foot disease [HR 29.44 (95% CI, 3.83-226.04)], compared to persons with type 1 diabetes with no risk factors. Persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus continued to display a lower risk for aortic aneurysm, even with three cardiovascular risk factors at baseline [HR 0.31 (95% CI, 0.15-0.67)]. Relative importance analyses demonstrated that education, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of diabetes and lipids explained 54% of extracranial large artery disease, while HbA1c, smoking and systolic blood pressure explained 50% of lower extremity artery disease and HbA1c alone contributed to 41% of diabetic foot disease. Income, duration of diabetes and body mass index explained 66% of the contribution to aortic aneurysm.

Interpretation

Peripheral arterial complications decreased in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus, except for aortic aneurysm which remained low. Besides glycemic control, traditional cardiovascular risk factors were associated with incident outcomes. Risk of these outcomes increased with additional risk factors present. Persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus exhibited a lower risk of aortic aneurysm compared to controls, despite presence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Funding

Swedish Governmental and the county support of research and education of doctors, the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, Sweden and Åke-Wibergs grant.

Cardiovascular and Kidney Risks in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Contemporary Understanding With Greater Emphasis on Excess Adiposity

In high-income countries, rates of atherosclerotic complications in type 2 diabetes have declined markedly over time due to better management of traditional risk factors including lipids, blood pressure, and glycemia levels. Population-wide reductions in smoking have also helped lower atherosclerotic complications and so reduce premature mortality in type 2 diabetes. However, as excess adiposity is a stronger driver for heart failure (HF), and obesity levels have remained largely unchanged, HF risks have not declined as much and may even be rising in the increasing number of people developing type 2 diabetes at younger ages. Excess weight is also an underrecognized risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Based on evidence from a range of sources, we explain how excess adiposity must be influencing most risks well before diabetes develops, particularly in younger-onset diabetes, which is linked to greater excess adiposity. We also review potential mechanisms linking excess adiposity to HF and CKD and speculate on how some of the responsible pathways-e.g., hemodynamic, cellular overnutrition, and inflammatory-could be favorably influenced by intentional weight loss (via lifestyle or drugs). On the basis of available evidence, we suggest that the cardiorenal outcome benefits seen with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may partially derive from their interference of some of these same pathways. We also note that many other complications common in diabetes (e.g., hepatic, joint disease, perhaps mental health) are also variably linked to excess adiposity, the aggregated exposure to which has now increased in type 2 diabetes. All such observations suggest a greater need to tackle excess adiposity earlier in type 2 diabetes.

Development of Serum Lactate Level-Based Nomograms for Predicting Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Purpose

To establish nomograms integrating serum lactate levels and traditional risk factors for predicting diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Patients and methods

A total of 570 T2DM patients and 100 healthy subjects were enrolled. T2DM patients were categorized into normal and high lactate groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify independent predictors for DKD. Then, nomograms for predicting DKD were established, and the model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

T2DM patients exhibited higher lactate levels compared to those in healthy subjects. Glucose, platelet, uric acid, creatinine, and hypertension were independent factors for DKD in T2DM patients with normal lactate levels, while diabetes duration, creatinine, total cholesterol, and hypertension were indicators in high lactate levels group (P<0.05). The AUC values were 0.834 (95% CI, 0.776 to 0.891) and 0.741 (95% CI, 0.688 to 0.795) for nomograms in both normal lactate and high lactate groups, respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated excellent agreement of fit. Furthermore, the DCA revealed that the threshold probability and highest Net Yield were 17-99% and 0.36, and 24-99% and 0.24 for the models in normal lactate and high lactate groups, respectively.

Conclusion

The serum lactate level-based nomogram models, combined with traditional risk factors, offer an effective tool for predicting DKD probability in T2DM patients. This approach holds promise for early risk assessment and tailored intervention strategies.

Chronic kidney disease in type 1 diabetes: translation of novel type 2 diabetes therapeutics to individuals with type 1 diabetes

Current management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 1 diabetes centres on glycaemic control, renin-angiotensin system inhibition and optimisation of risk factors including blood pressure, lipids and body weight. While these therapeutic approaches have significantly improved outcomes among people with type 1 diabetes and CKD, this population remains at substantial elevated risk for adverse kidney and cardiovascular events, with limited improvements over the last few decades. The significant burden of CKD and CVD in type 1 diabetes populations highlights the need to identify novel therapies with the potential for heart and kidney protection. Over the last decade, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have emerged as potent kidney-protective and/or cardioprotective agents in type 2 diabetes. The consistent, substantial kidney and cardiovascular benefits of these agents has led to their incorporation into professional guidelines as foundational care for type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, introduction of these agents into clinical practice has been accompanied by a shift in the focus of diabetes care from a 'glucose-centric' to a 'cardiorenal risk-centric' approach. In this review, we evaluate the potential translation of novel type 2 diabetes therapeutics to individuals with type 1 diabetes with the lens of preventing the development and progression of CKD.

PCSK9 causes inflammation and cGAS/STING pathway activation in diabetic nephropathy

Our previous research revealed that an increase in PCSK9 is linked to aggravated inflammation in the kidneys of mice affected by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) or in HGPA-induced HK-2 cells. Furthermore, the cGAS/STING pathway has been reported to be involved in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the correlation between the proinflammatory effect of PCSK9 and the cGAS/STING pathway in DN. We used PCSK9 mAbs to inhibit PCSK9 in vivo and PCSK9 siRNA in vitro and measured the inflammatory phenotype in HFD/STZ-treated mice or HGPA-induced HK-2 cells, and observed decreased blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, UACR, and kidney injury in response to the PCSK9 mAb in HFD/STZ-treated mice. Moreover, IL-1 β, MCP-1, and TNF-α levels were reduced by the PCSK9 mAb in vivo and PCSK9 siRNA in vitro. We observed increased mtDNA damage and activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway during DN, as well as the downstream targets p-TBK1, p-NF-κB p65, and IL-1β. In a further experiment with an HGPA-induced DN model in HK-2 cells, we revealed that mtDNA damage was increased, which led to the activation of the cGAS/STING system and its downstream targets. Notably, the cGAS-STING signaling pathway was inhibited by the PCSK9 mAb in vivo and PCSK9 siRNA in vitro. In addition, inhibition of STING with C-176 in HGPA-induced HK-2 cells markedly blocked inflammation. In conclusion, we report for the first time that PCSK9 triggers mitochondrial DNA damage and activates the cGAS-STING pathway in DN, which leads to a series of inflammation cascades. PCSK9-targeted intervention can effectively reduce DN inflammation and delay its progression. Moreover, the inhibition of STING significantly abrogated the inflammation triggered by HGPA in HK-2 cells.

The many faces of hypertension in individuals with type 1 diabetes

Several disturbed blood pressure (BP) patterns, including disparities between office and out-of-office BP measurements (such as white-coat and masked hypertension), disturbed circadian BP variability (such as abnormal dipping patterns and nocturnal hypertension) and treatment-resistant hypertension, are common in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Consequently, office or home BP measurements alone may not reflect real BP variation and may lead to inadequate diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. The early detection of these disturbed BP patterns is especially crucial in individuals with type 1 diabetes, as these patterns may indicate future development of adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. In this review we will describe these disturbed BP patterns and discuss recent findings on their prevalence and outcomes. We will also address critical areas for future research to determine the true prevalence and prognosis of disturbed BP patterns, and to optimize and improve the knowledge and management of high-risk individuals with type 1 diabetes and disturbed BP patterns.

Redox Genetic Risk Score and the Incidence of End-Stage Kidney Disease in People with Type 1 Diabetes

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a multifactorial condition influenced by genetic background, but the extent to which a genetic risk score (GRS) improves ESKD prediction is unknown. We built a redox GRS on the base of previous association studies (six polymorphisms from six redox genes) and tested its relationship with ESKD in three cohorts of people with type 1 diabetes. Among 1012 participants, ESKD (hemodialysis requirement, kidney transplantation, eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m²) occurred in 105 (10.4%) during a 14-year follow-up. High redox GRS was associated with increased ESKD risk (adjusted HR for the upper versus the lowest GRS tertile: 2.60 (95% CI, 1.51-4.48), p = 0.001). Each additional risk-allele was associated with a 20% increased risk of ESKD (95% CI, 8-33, p < 0.0001). High GRS yielded a relevant population attributable fraction (30%), but only a marginal enhancement in c-statistics index (0.928 [0.903-0.954]) over clinical factors 0.921 (0.892-0.950), p = 0.04). This is the first report of an independent association between redox GRS and increased risk of ESKD in type 1 diabetes. Our results do not support the use of this GRS in clinical practice but provide new insights into the involvement of oxidative stress genetic factors in ESKD risk in type 1 diabetes.